I guess we're supposed to feel like the Cardinals won some sort of consolation prize since the team that barely beat them in the National League Championship Series went on to a sweep win in the World Series.

But I think the way the Giants steamrolled the Tigers only makes me feel worse.

It sure seems like Detroit, after a long layoff similar to the one that robbed the team of its momentum before the 2006 World Series, was there for the taking. If the Redbirds could have managed to win just one more game, it could have been them celebrating on the field last night.

The Tigers' high-paid sluggers were nowhere to be found. And I guess we are once again reminded that, in the era of multiple playoff rounds, it's the team that gets hot at the right time that wins the big prize -- not the team that's the best.

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The Giants were without their best hitter in the stretch run and playoffs with Melky Cabrera out thanks to a performance enhancing drug suspension. They two-time Cy Young Award winning pitcher Tim Lincecum was so out of whack that he lost his spot in the rotation and was used as a middle reliever. Beyond catcher Buster Posey and third baseman Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco was a team of journeymen and castoffs including former Cubs outfielder Angel Pagan, longtime and Athletics infielder Marco Scutaro.

We're supposed to believe those guys are better than Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Justin Verlander. It just doesn't add up. Especially since I don't believe those guys were better than David Freese, Allen Craig, Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran.